U.S. - Today in San Salvador, 20 internationally recognized coffee experts begin their weeklong sampling of 153 different Arabica coffees that were submitted by Salvadoran growers who are competing in El Salvador's second annual Cup of Excellence® countrywide coffee quality event. Based on qualities such as aroma, flavor, balance and absence of defects, each coffee will be assigned a point score of up to 100.

For El Salvador's 2004 Cup® event, a total of 403 Arabica samples were submitted by coffee growers from around the country by the April 2 deadline. From April 12-16, a jury of 14 national coffee experts tasted (or "cupped") the coffees and selected 153 of the nation's finest green beans to advance to this second stage of the competition. Following this week's "cuppings," on Friday, May 14 the 20 member international jury will select the "best of the best" green beans to receive the coveted "Cup of Excellence®" award. These winning coffees will be offered for sale to international roasters during a special Internet auction on June 22.

TechnoServe helped to bring the Cup of Excellence® competition to El Salvador in 2003 and again in 2004, as a way to promote the country as a producer of very high-quality coffees that command premium prices. "During these difficult times for coffee growers worldwide, the Cup of Excellence® is an excellent way to showcase producer countries like El Salvador and to help our coffee growers who are committed to quality to earn the high prices that they deserve," said Roberto Vega Lara, TechnoServe/El Salvador Country Director.

During El Salvador's first-ever Cup of Excellence® competition in 2003, father-and-daughter coffee growers Mauricio Batlle Mena and Aida Batlle broke international price records when they received US$14.06/pound -- for a total of US$37,962 for 2,700 pounds -- from bidders Solberg & Hansen for the Arabica coffee grown on their Kilimanjaro farm. El Salvador set other Cup® records, as well: for having the greatest number of winning coffees in a first-time Cup of Excellence® competition (31), and for having the first female coffee grower (Aida Batlle) to win first place in any Cup® event. During the 2003 Cup® auction, all 31 lots of coffee offered were sold to international bidders, who paid a total of US$364,749 for 105,750 pounds of El Salvador's best green beans. Prices ranged from US$2.05/pound up to the high of US$14.06/pound. The average price paid was US$3.62/pound -- or six times more than the then-current New York market price for Arabica of around 60 cents(US)/pound.

The Cup of Excellence® is a nationwide tasting event created by the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) to identify, promote and earn better prices for quality coffee. The 2004 El Salvador Cup® was organized by TechnoServe, Chemonics, Consejo Salvadoreño del Café, the Cooperative League of the United States (CLUSA), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The 2004 "Cup" sponsors are Agua Cristal; Asociación de Cafés Especiales; Banco Hipotecario; BMI; El Borbullon; Café Izalco; La China Coffee; Cooperative Cuzcachapa; FedEx; J Hill & Co. Beneficio; La Majada; Plantosa; La Prensa Grafica; PriceWaterhouseCoopers; and Rodriguez Ventura. TechnoServe's involvement in El Salvador's 2004 Cup of Excellence® is made possible with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development and The Procter & Gamble Company.

For the names, countries and affiliations of the international jury members for the 2004 El Salvador Cup of Excellence® competition, please visit:
http://www.cupofexcellence.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=266

For more information about the 2004 El Salvador Cup of Excellence®, please visit:
http://www.salvadorancoffees.com OR http://www.cupofexcellence.org

For additional information please contact:(and see below)

TechnoServe, Inc.

TechnoServe, Inc.

TechnoServe is leading a movement that empowers people in the developing world to build businesses that break the cycle of poverty. Growing enterprises generate jobs and other income opportunities for poor people, enabling them to improve their lives and secure a better future for their families. Since its founding in 1968, the U.S.-based nonprofit has helped to create or expand thousands of businesses, benefiting millions of people in more than 30 countries. The Financial Times has rated TechnoServe one of the top five NGOs for corporate partnerships. Charity Navigator has also awarded its highest Four Star ranking to TechnoServe.

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